Can You Just Sit With Me? Sitting With God in Griefનમૂનો

Sitting with the God Who Sees

I remember getting the call from my only living sister, Charlotte, of another death in our family. My heart immediately wanted to turn to stone, to not feel the impact it would have on me and my family. My jaw was clenched, my lips pursed, my fists tight, and my gaze narrowed. I was so frustrated and shattered.

Again? Why, God? It was a rhetorical question. More of a heart’s cry of, Fix it, Lord! Have you been there? Wondering if anyone sees the pain that you are experiencing or have experienced due to your loss? Then your questions turn into, Does anyone even care?

During times of pain, hurt, suffering, and grief, it is easy to allow questions and thoughts to run free in our minds, especially with our self-talk. The questions are valid. As we grieve, we may feel as if God is a million miles away.

It may feel as if God is too big to be concerned about you. You may feel that you have been dealt a bad hand by God. But rest assured the Maker of the heavens and the earth cares for you and loves you with an everlasting love. The God who goes before all things and who holds all things together knows you by name and sees you. He not only sees you, but he also cares for you.

Matthew writes, “Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows” (Matthew 10:29-31 NIV).

God sees and cares about every single detail of our life. He is concerned with the things that concern us, including our grief.

We can be reminded of the God who sees when we read the story of Hagar. Genesis 16 introduces us to Hagar, a slave girl who thought she was forgotten. She thought she would be left for dead in the desert along with the son she bore to Abraham. She thought herself to be an afterthought, unworthy of love, and she most likely thought her problems and her grief were too unimportant to bother God with.

Yet, God saw her. He saw her when no one else did. And he sees you and me in our grief.